Tagged: ‘Adnan Virk’

posted by on May 24, 2013 4:30 PM

Atlanta Braves pitcher Craig Kimbrel visits ESPN before Sunday Night Baseball date with New York Mets

Speed Round with Kimbrel

Favorite non-baseball ESPN personality?
Lee Corso. I love watching him put the mascot heads on during College GameDay

If you got hired by Sunday Night Baseball, what role do you think you’d be best at?
Probably play-by-play.

Favorite This is SportsCenter commercial?
Arnold Palmer, by far.

Atlanta Braves closer Craig Kimbrel stopped by the ESPN campus yesterday while he was up north for a weekend series with the New York Mets. The final game of the series will be featured on the Memorial Day Weekend edition of Sunday Night Baseball (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET).

During his visit in Bristol, Kimbrel sat down with Front Row to discuss his favorite moments of the day, what it feels like to take the mound on “baseball’s biggest stage” and whose job he’d like to take on SNB. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, MLBonESPN

posted by on May 24, 2013 2:48 PM

SportsCenter’s resident film buff Adnan Virk’s summer cinema breakdown

Monsters University (Disney/PIXAR)

Monsters University (Disney/PIXAR)

Editor’s note: ESPN’s studio jack-of-all trades and Front Row’s big-screen consultant Adnan Virk submits his summer movie insights.

Summer movies are like college parties; boisterous, noisy and generally forgettable. If fall movies are the domain of prestige pictures seeking Oscar gold, then summer blockbusters are designed to create box office demand and flat-out entertain. The downside is that many of the movies can feel disposable but if you’re looking for a genuine thrill ride, then cinema’s silly season is for you.

Here are 10 to look out for:

Star Trek Into Darkness continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, SportsCenter

posted by on February 22, 2013 8:00 AM

The envelopes, please: SportsCenter’s Adnan Virk reveals his Oscar picks

ESPN's Adnan Virk (Joe Faraoni / ESPN Images)

ESPN’s Adnan Virk (Joe Faraoni / ESPN Images)

Editor’s note: In January, when the nominations for the 2013 Academy Awards were announced, SportsCenter anchor and film buff Adnan Virk weighed in with his thoughts about the Top 11 Oscar Snubs. Below, he shares with Front Row his picks in the various Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences categories. The Academy Awards air Sunday on ABC, beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

I love Oscar Night. While I recognize the massive self-absorption and narcissism of the entire affair, I love motion pictures. I celebrate the celebration of them.

I’ve seen every movie nominated for best picture, director, actor, actress, supporting actor, supporting actress, original screenplay and adapted screenplay.

I try to do so every year. I have to neglect my family but did it again!

Since I don’t have the ability to attend the Academy Awards ceremonies, I’ll be watching on my couch, dressed up in a tux. In honor of Lincoln, I’ll be wearing a top hat and speaking to my wife and kids in a high, reedy voice.

Best Picture
Will win: Argo. Ben Affleck’s snub for best director could be the best thing to happen to the film. Now on a tidal wave of outrage and sympathy, the film has won the Producers Guild award, Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild awards. The last film to win the PGA, WGA and SAG and not win the Academy Award for Best Picture was Apollo 13. But Driving Miss Daisy won Best Picture in 1989 without a Best Director nomination and so Argo doesn’t have to entirely set precedent.

I’d like to see win: A toss up between Lincoln and Argo. I loved both films and would be happy if either was recognized.

“I'll be watching on my couch, in a tux and in honor of Lincoln wearing a top hat and speaking to my wife and kids in a high, reedy voice.”

“I’ll be watching on my couch, in a tux and in honor of Lincoln wearing a top hat. . .”

Best Actor
Will win: Daniel Day-Lewis [Lincoln] in the slam dunk of the century. He’s won every major award and is the best actor of his generation, despite [ESPNRadio host] Colin Cowherd’s disdain for him.

I’d like to see win: DDL. If it was up to me, he’d be on the verge of his fourth Best Actor Oscar win, since I think he should’ve won for Gangs of New York. In any event, he’ll make history as the first actor ever to win three Best Actor Academy Awards.

Best actress
Will win: Jennifer Lawrence [Silver Linings Playbook]. The entire cast was nominated and the young star will cap off a strong year with the box office grosses of The Hunger Games as well. She was previously nominated for Winter’s Bone.

I’d like to see: Naomi Watts win for The Impossible. A harrowing portrayal of a true life tale, a mother desperate to stay alive and find her family after a devastating tsunami tears them apart. Heartbreaking work.

Best supporting actor continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, SportsCenter

posted by on January 13, 2013 1:00 PM

Here’s SportsCenter anchor, film buff
Adnan Virk’s Top 11 Oscars snubs

Mike and Mike in the Morning with Adnan Virk. (Joe Faraoni/ ESPN Images)

Versatile Adnan Virk, seen here hosting Mike and Mike in the Morning, has lots of opinions on films.
(Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images)

“The biggest snub was Ben Affleck not being nominated for Best Director. Argo received seven nods, yet somehow the director, the orchestrator, was not deemed worthy! Normally actors directing are favored by the Academy: Robert Redford for “Ordinary People” over Martin Scorsese’s “Raging Bull” and Kevin Costner’s “Dances with Wolves” over Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” — two grievous decisions.

Outside a showing of Glengarry Glen Ross. (Photo courtesy of Adnan Virk)

Outside a showing of Glengarry Glen Ross. (Adnan Virk)

This biting critique did not originate from a Hollywood office or an esteemed international movie critic.

No, it’s the opinion of admitted “film geek” and SportsCenter anchor Adnan Virk, better known for opining on players and coaches than actors and directors.

“I’ve always felt most comfortable in a darkened theater with absolutely no one speaking to me. It’s here that I achieve my moment of Zen,” Virk said of his life-long affinity for movies.

Virk looks forward to this past week’s annual Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominations leading up to the Academy Awards (ABC, Feb. 24, 8 p.m. ET).

“I can’t pinpoint the specific reason for my love affair with motion pictures,” said Virk, who joined ESPN in May 2010 as an anchor for ESPNEWS and is a frequent fill-in host on ESPN Radio.

“Maybe it’s because I grew up in a small wintry town in eastern Ontario, or because being the shortest kid in the class meant that you sought a means of escape when you were picked last for dodge ball,” Virsk said. “Or, maybe because my mom and I had a natural kinship towards bonding through popcorn and watching old movies devoid of foul language or any sort of objectionable material that would easily offend her.”

That criteria comes from a guy whose “favorite movies of all time list” includes Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Godfather I and II and Dog Day Afternoon.


Adnan and The Oscars

For this special Sunday longform piece, Front Row tapped into Adnan Virk’s movie mojo after the Academy’s nominees were announced Thursday, asking for his Top 10 snubs, which are included in the accompanying post.

Prior to ABC’s airing of The Oscars from Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre on Feb. 24, Front Row will again seek out its cinematic sage and we’ll present Adnan’s picks for who will bring home the gold.

“I watched not just the classics, but everything made by my hero Martin Scorsese, and cherished actors like Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro,” Virk said. “And I soaked up the film criticism of esteemed writers like Roger Ebert, Geoff Pevere and Pauline Kael.”

Virk took his passion to Ryerson University in Toronto, planning to major in Film, but his initial experience on that side of the camera led him to a career on the other side. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on June 13, 2012 10:00 AM

I Follow: Adnan Virk

ESPNEWS anchor Adnan Virk filled in for Mike Greenberg on Mike and Mike in the Morning.

Editor’s note: I Follow is all about ESPN employees on Twitter: what they tweet, whom they follow and how you can interact socially with anyone and everyone.

Twitter handle: @adnanESPN
Followers: 9,188
Following: 259
(As of 06/13/12)

Adnan Virk, a Canadian-born sports reporter and host, joined ESPN in May 2010 as an anchor for ESPNEWS.

Since then, Virk has not met a studio, set, camera or microphone he doesn’t like. He now regularly anchors the Saturday 1 a.m. ET SportsCenter, and fills in on a plethora of programming (all this week on ESPN Radio and on Wednesday’s 6 p.m. SportsCenter with Jay Harris).

Most recently, the TV anchor is actually getting more television time by doing radio: This week he has subbed for Mike Greenberg (Monday-Tuesday) on Mike & Mike in the Morning, simulcast on ESPN2, and for Scott Van Pelt (Wednesday-Friday and Monday) on The Scott Van Pelt Show (simulcast on ESPNEWS, 1-3 p.m.).

Virk’s ESPN Radio debut was a year ago next Monday when he co-hosted SportsCenter Sunday with Jonathan Coachman on June 18, 2011.

“Jonathan didn’t give me a pile driver after the show, which was a win for all,” Virk says of surviving that show with “The Coach,” a former World Wrestling Entertainment commentator and wrestler.

Virk had some radio experience when he arrived at ESPN, but it took a while to get on the air.

“From the time that I first met with the ESPN Radio bosses [Senior Directors] Scott Masteller and Pete Gianesini, to when I made my first appearance, was actually nine months,” Virk says.

The wait was certainly worth it for Virk, who does more than fill a seat as a fill-in host, opining as if he were a regular through his deep knowledge and easy interaction with his established co-hosts Mike Golic and Ryen Russillo.

“Since Golic is a former [Philadelphia] Eagle and I’m an Eagles fan, we have instant rapport,” Virk says. “The defense he played for in the 90s is one of my favorite units in all of sports. The fact he’s unassuming and is willing to roll wherever is invaluable. Plus, I destroy the daily breakfast on Mike and Mike and he doesn’t pass judgment.”

When did you join Twitter, and why?
I joined Twitter after much heavy resistance but my previous employer [Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment] convinced me it would be a way to build my brand. Since my ultimate goal is world domination, this seemed to be a wise first step.

How often do you interact with fans on Twitter? continue reading…

Filed in: I Follow: Inside Twitter

posted by on June 1, 2012 8:00 AM

Stacy Greenberg’s scouting report on hubby’s co-hosting LIVE! with Kelly

Mike Greenberg lost almost 200 pounds of co-host Thursday when he left his Mike & Mike in the Morning partner Mike Golic in Bristol, Conn. and once again sat in with the effervescent Kelly Ripa as co-host for LIVE! with Kelly.

Front Row special correspondent — and Greeny’s wife — Stacy Greenberg provided a post-show assessment of her very own “dancing star.”

“It’s totally different [from when he's paired with Golic], but he’s stunningly comfortable sitting next to a girly girl — they have a lot of common interests: shopping, getting their hair and nails done,” said Stacy, while driving the pair home from Manhattan. (Yes, she does the driving, explaining, “He’s a very, very bad driver. I can get from A to B better. I can parallel park. And, he can Tweet.”)

When she said “Michael is one of the best five or six guest hosts I’ve seen with Kelly,” one could only assume she was just saying that because “Michael” was right there in the front seat. But when asked how many guest hosts she’d seen, she candidly replied, “Five or six.”

Even Greeny’s Bristol buddies were weighing in.

“I just got an e-mail from my wife,” Golic told Greenberg’s stand-in Adnan Virk and Thursday morning’s national radio and TV (ESPN2 simulcast) audiences. “She says, ‘Greeny is talking so much.’”

Virk, watching Kelly on a monitor, came to Greeny’s defense, adding quickly, “But he is dressed impeccably.”

Stacy explained (jokingly, we think), “He has a staff of four people get him ready –- every day, not just for this show.” continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, On The Road

posted by on January 4, 2012 3:00 PM

SportsCenter anchors share their favorite sports moments of 2011

What sports moments from 2011 stand out in your mind?

Several SportsCenter anchors tackled that question. Among their reflections:

John Buccigross relished goalie Tim Thomas’ postseason as the Boston Bruins claimed their first NHL title since 1970.

Adnan Virk took a liking to the halftime show at a Denver Broncos home game. . . Maybe he says it best in the video.

David Lloyd realized during Game 6 of the World Series between the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals that he “may be watching the best game in baseball history.”

What was your favorite 2011 sports moment? Let us know in the comments box below, or on Twitter @espnfrontrow and on Facebook.

Filed in: Behind The Scenes